I’m a science teacher at a high school, and with your permission, I’d love to Display these “10 Commandments” in class (Credited to you obviously)! HOpefully this’ll teach some kids to think more critically and not just gobble up information from “Authority Figures” (Myself included!)

As a Christian, I think these are great. I think it’s a perfectly acceptable approach to Bible Study as well. I’m starting a series called Skeptics Corner on my blog. I think I’ll add this to the preamble if that’s okay with you.

My name is Mike, and therefore I practice ‘Mikism’… a system comprised entirely of my own beliefs. I will NEVER allow someone to supplant my beliefs with their own. Those that allow others to dictate a system of beliefs to them are ignorant, weak or lazy.

The Ten Commandments of ‘Mikism’

1) – I will NEVER accept a popular or convenient belief… simply because it is popular or convenient.

2) – I will carefully weigh the validity of every supposition, fact or explanation presented to me.

3) – I will ALWAYS recognize and respect the vast chasm between theorem and proof.

4) – All of human history teaches us that ‘unknown’ does NOT mean ‘unknowable’.

5) – If not for those who question the status quo, people would still be huddling in caves worshipping rocks, trees and weather.

6) – The fact that I, as a thinking being, can cause or alter events… is NOT proof that all events are therefore caused by thinking beings.

7) – Attribution of the unknown to deities or supernatural events… is the definition of laziness.

8) – I will always seek logical and provable answers to life’s questions.

9) – I fully accept that many of my questions will not be answered in my lifetime.

10) – I shall die knowing that my time and intellect were not wasted on the primitive worship of natural phenomena.

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About the Author

Kyle Hill is a science writer and communicator who specializes in finding the secret science in your favorite fandom. His work has appeared in Wired, The Boston Globe, Scientific American, Popular Science, Discover Magazine, and more. He is a TV correspondent for Al Jazeera America's science and technology show TechKnow.